37 PERSONS DIED AS KANPUR-KASGANJ EXPRESS DASHED A PRIVATE BUS
RAILWAY MINISTER EXPRESSES GRIEF
In Uttar Pradesh, Kanpur-Kasganj
Express No. 5301 dashed a private bus at a manned level crossing
between Sahawar town and Badhari Kalan stations in Fatehgarh-Kasganj
Section, Etah District of Izat Nagar Division of North-Eastern
Railway at around 12.52 hours today. As a result of this accident,
the bus capsized and fell into a canal next to the level crossing.
37 of bus passengers have so far died and 24 injured. A medical
relief team with doctors and fire brigade immediately rushed to
the site of the accident to undertake rescue operations.
On learning about the accident,
the Railway Minister, Shri Nitish Kumar who was away on a tour,
expressed profound grief over the death of bus passengers. He
immediately spoke to railway authorities and instructed them to
take suitable steps for the rescue and restoration operations.
The Railway Minister also directed the Member Traffic, Railway
Board, Shri M.C. Shrivastava, to rush to the accident site. General
Manager (North Eastern), Additional General Manager, (Northern
Railway), Divisional Railway Manager, (Izat Nagar) have also rushed
to the accident site. Commissioner (Railway Safety) is also on
its way to the site to conduct the enquiry.
The Railway Minister has also
announced an enhanced amount, as a special case, for making ex-gratia
payment of Rs. 15,000/- each to the next of kin of those killed,
Rs. 5,000/- each to grievously injured and Rs. 500/- each to those
with simple injury. The ex-gratia amounts have been increased
from the normal payments of Rs. 6,000, 2,500 and nil amount respectively.
Regarding cause of accident,
prima-facie, it seems that the gate of level crossing remained
opened when the train was passing through it. The final findings
about the accident will be known only after the enquiry. The Railway
Minister has said that after the enquiry, the responsibility will
be fixed even at higher level for this accident.
